title: A synergistic effect of Carica papaya latex sap and fluconazole on Candida albicans growth.
abstract: A mixture of Carica papaya latex (0.41 mg protein ml-1) and fluconazole (2 micrograms ml-1) showed a synergistic action on the inhibition of Candida albicans growth. Thus, with this mixture an equivalent inhibition rate was observed to that obtained when C. albicans was cultured in a medium supplemented with a two-fold concentration (4 micrograms ml-1) of fluconazole alone. This synergistic effect resulted in partial cell wall degradation as indicated by transmission electron microscopy observations. An increase of fluconazole concentration from 2 micrograms ml-1 to 4 micrograms ml-1 involved a small decrease of MIC 80% from latex (150 to 130 micrograms protein ml-1). Measure of MIC 80% from fluconazole mixed with latex in a subinhibitory concentration (85 micrograms protein ml-1) allows the determination of an effective fluconazole concentration (4 micrograms ml-1) inferior to mean plasmatic dose observed in human therapy. The potential therapeutic use of latex in combination with a synthetic antifungal is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Botanique, Cryptogamie et Biologie Cellulaire, Université de la Méditerranée, Faculté de Pharmacie, Marseille, France.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Giordani
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gachon
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Moulin-Traffort
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Régli
mesh_terms: D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004357:Drug Synergism; D015725:Fluconazole / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005638:Fruit; D007840:Latex / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D007840:Latex; D010936:Plant Extracts; D015725:Fluconazole